Prairie Settle Sectional #3: Linking Stretchers - Advice Please!!

Ok. One of the things I’ve asked myself when designing this project is, “How are stretchers linked together?” In particular, I wondered how to handle intersections of three and four stretchers. I didn’t include this in the initial drawings, because I expected to add the details later. We call this “hand waving” in computer science.

Anyway, the time has come to nail this down, so to speak. I have an idea that I think will work, but I would appreciate hearing advice or alternate suggestions. So, here goes:

Notice this top (x-ray) view of four stretchers meeting at a front leg. Each leg face has a mortise to accept a stretcher tenon. This gives the joint strength, because the load is held by the mortise/tenon—not any linking hardware. Notice also the interior space (covered with a cap in the final construction)

Ok, here’s the idea. We will use two threaded rods running the length of the stretcher with coupling nuts concealed inside the leg to link sections. The process is as follows:

1) Mill a 1/4” groove to the center of the stretcher from the back
2) Mill a 7/8” groove that is 5/16” deep for a filler strip
3) Glue in filler strip
4) Plane filler strip flush with interior stretcher face
5) Form tenons on each end

Here’s the final product:

Notice that the grooves are placed 1” from one end and 1 1/2” from the other. This allows the stretchers to intersect without the coupling nuts colliding. In one direction, the 1” groove is closer to the top, but the 1.5” groove is closer to the top in the perpendicular direction.

Seems like it will work. I have thought about threaded inserts, bed hangers, etc., but I think this will work the best. What do you think?

Thanks!

-- -- Jim E., Oswego, NY. Create, have fun, and work safely!